Helen Wagner WristonHELEN WAGNER WRISTON
A resident of Honolulu since 1954, died peacefully at her home in Honolulu on September 22, 2012, after a long illness. She was 85. She was born December 25, 1926, in Long Island, New York, to the late Maurice F. and Clara B. Wagner and spent her childhood in and around New Haven, CT where she graduated from the Day School, now a part of Hopkins School, and attended Yale University's School of Music, where she was a member of the Class of 1948. She was a talented pianist, but gave up a career as a pianist in favor of making a home for her family.
In addition to caring for her family and being a gracious hostess, she volunteered for many community organizations, including Kauikeolani Children's Hospital, the Legal Auxiliary and Punahou School where she chaired the Punahou Carnival in 1972.
She is survived by her husband of over 61 years, A. James Wriston, Jr., an attorney, by her daughter, Jaimee Wriston Colbert (Donald) of Binghamton, NY, and by two sons, John David Wriston (Lisa) of Honolulu, and Jeffrey Pratt Wriston (Erin) of Vancouver, WA, nine grandchildren and one greatgrandchild. She was preceded in death by her eldest son, A. James Wriston, III.
Interment will be private, attended only by family. A memorial service for friends and family will be held at Atherton Chapel, Central Union Church on Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. Aloha attire is suggested. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions in Helen's memory might be made to Academy of the Pacific, 913 Alewa Drive, Honolulu 96817, from which one of her sons and three of her grandsons graduated, or to your favorite charity.